Day trips from Boston – Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, Massachusetts
Over the last 20 odd years my sister has put me up in her wonderful Victorian home in Roxbury, during this time we have shared many memorable trips and it is thanks to her that I have seen parts of New England that would not have normally been part of my itinerary as I have travelled around inspecting B&Bs and rental properties for our clients.
One such memorable trip was one of our first; on a beautiful autumn day, crisp cold air and brilliant blue skies which seem to me one only finds in New England (a biased opinion). We drove out of Boston, through Cambridge, into Arlington, then Lexington, Concord and onto Route 2 West. This route is steeped in history. All of these towns offer their own contribution in the history of America and each one is worth a visit, however we had a goal and that was to reach The Fruitlands Museum. We would do the others on a separate trip.
The Fruitlands Museum is a magic 230 acre property in Harvard, Massachusetts, with far reaching views, stone walls and lovely buildings. Fruitlands was created in 1914 by Clara Endicott Sears as a museum to Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane’s Fruitlands experiment of communal living in 1843, so called as the inhabitants would live off the fruit of the land. Clara Endicott Sears had a farm here till her death in 1960. The farm was run as a charity and produce was both dried and canned. During the 1st World War some 2 tons of food was sent to the troops in the trenches in France. In 1930 the museum was incorporated. Louisa May Alcott, visited here as a child and recounts some of her memories in her novel Little Women.
Just a few things to see when at Fruitlands any time of the year, but particularly now in the Fall when the colours are lovely, both at the farm and on the drive to it.
- The Shaker Office – a stunning clear lined building which houses the largest archive of Harvard Shaker documents in the world.
- Around the main grounds are stunning sculptures of Native American Indians and the gallery houses a good collection of artefacts honouring the spiritual presence and cultural history of the first Americans.
- There are some 100 Hudson River School landscape paintings in the Art Gallery, and a huge collection of 19th century vernacular portraits. Well worth a visit.
- Walk the wooded trails that run through meadows, pine barrens and vernal pools which are surrounded by flora and fauna. Some 55 different bird species can be looked out for on your wanderings through the “New and Old Meadows”.
- Visit the Museum Shop which has handcrafts by local artists.
- The Museum also hosts weddings, functions and courses and has a restaurant and tea room.
Directions: Approximately 45 miles from Boston. Follow Massachusetts Avenue through Cambridge and take Route 2 West to Exit 38A, head south on Route 110 and take 1st right onto Old Shirley Road, Museum is 2 miles on the right.
